Jacqui Parr

Jacqui is the Editor of Progressive Preschool, a leading trade publication covering the pre-school sector. She is very high regarded and well respected in her market, and if she isn't at her desk supporting the brands in the sector with coverage, she can be seen on stage at the calendar event of the year presenting awards! We are truly honoured to work with Jacqui and very grateful to her and her team for the support she gives us at the Media Snug, but also all our brands in the parenting sector.

Do you have inspirational quotes?

There are lots words of wisdom out there, written or spoken by far cleverer people than me - but there are a few which really resonate. As we're doing this to celebrate the power women though, I have to choose this one: "She has been feeling it for awhile - that sense of awaking. There is a gentle rage simmering inside her, and it is getting stronger by the day. She will hold it close to her - she will nurture it and let it grow. She won't let anyone take it away from her. It is her rocket fuel and finally, she is going places. She can feel it down to her very core - this is her time. She will not only climb mountains - she will move them too." - Lang Leav, The Universe of Us.

And my friend posted this on Facebook, which I think sums it up pretty well and is markedly more succinct: "Here's to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them."

What have been your highs & lows?

Highs - Staying with the IWD theme, my daughter bringing home a 'votes for women' poster she'd made at school when she was four was a particular highlight!

Lows - include being subject to sexual assault in the middle of the street on the way to work one day. I laughed it off at the time and didn't even report it.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing women today?

That's such a big question. The issues people in a similar position to me face (childcare issues, pay disparity, everyday sexism, misrepresentation, etc) are a world apart from the women in other countries who still suffer atrocities such as FGM and legal rape on a daily basis. Bearing all that in mind, I think the biggest single issue has to be education - so many people don't seem to appreciate that the fight for equality didn't begin and end with us getting the vote all those years ago.

What advice do you have for other women?

Be strong. Lift up those who can't be strong. Speak for those who can't speak for themselves. Never be afraid to use your voice.

Do you think it’s important to have International Women’s Day and why?

Absolutely. Women's achievements are still vastly under-represented in both the history books and the Western media, so having a day where they

are pushed to the forefront of our attentions can only be a good thing. And of course it makes sense to use that celebration as a call to action for true gender equality. The #metoo and #timesup movements make me feel incredibly hopeful for the next generation.

Having said that, we are incredibly lucky to live in a society where (most) women have a voice, when there are so many places around the world where women are totally oppressed. We need to remember to look outside our own experiences as well as gender politics isn't restricted to the western world.

We need to have a reason to have these discussions and IWD is a great tool for that.